RAWALPINDI: Maj Gen (Retd) Ghulam Umer has unconditionally expressed his regret over the past and has given an unqualified assurance that he will remain loyal to Pakistan and will work only for the national interest in future, it was officially stated here today [June 18]. In view of his regrets and assurances, the Government of Pakistan has allowed him to be shifted from the prison and placed under house arrest, an official handout said.

Following are extracts from Maj Gen (Retd) Ghulam Umer’s letter which he addresses to ... President [Bhutto] ... : “ … I wish to state that whatever I may have done in the past in my official capacity was under the orders of the then Gov­ernment and I have always been loyal and continue to remain loyal to the concept of Pakistan.

“I express my regrets for anything which may have been attributed to me and which might have caused any embarrassment to the Gove­rn­ment of Pakistan. … I feel in this hour of difficulty the entire Pakistani nation must solidly stand behind you in your efforts to lead the country out of the present dangers toward honour, dignity and prosperity. My humble life is completely at your disposal, Sir, and I assure you from the bottom of my heart that I will continue to remain loyal to Pakistan… .” — News agencies

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2022